Rewinding the Oakland win

Chad Pennington's protection has been pretty solid this season, but against Oakland the offensive line really dropped the ball. Or better yet, the protection.

Pennington wasn't just sacked three times, which included a safety I suspect his limited mobility contributed to. He was also hit and rushed his throws on nearly a dozen more snaps.

It would be a challenge to pinpoint who was the problem because everyone on the offensive line had their issues against Oakland's front line.

However, Oakland end Jay Richardson owned right tackle Vernon Carey most of the game. The Dolphins need to look up when this fifth-round pick from Ohio State becomes a free agent (likely in 2010). Richardson, who is 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, proved he has the potential to become a beast, one perfect to become a 3-4 end. So far this season he's contributed a career-high 36 tackles and two sacks.

Against the Dolphins Richardson had two tackles, one sack and the safety. In fairness, in my stock report I credited Carey with two sacks but he really only allowed 1 1/2. A blitzing safety, Gibril Wilson, got credit for half of the first sack Carey allowed. And truthfully speaking, pressure was every where on that play. But it was Tommy Kelly (6 tackles, 1/2 sacks), Carey's man before the snap, who shed Carey's block and got to Pennington first....

I suspect Pennington's foot injury more than anything caused the Dolphins' first sack because no one was pressuring him before he dove to the ground. That play resulted in Justin Smiley's first sack of the season because it was Kelly who fell on top of Pennington.

Still, it took Smiley 10 games to give up half a sack. That achievement shouldn't be ignored. I've said it once and I'll say it again. Smiley's having a Pro Bowl season. But to be honest, this was his worst game of the year. However, he was still the top performing offensive lineman against Oakland on the day the Dolphins rushed for a season-high 222 yards. Jake Long had his moments, and was effective as a pulling tackle on a few plays....

The Dolphins need a better wedge buster on special teams because all three of Oakland's big returns came right up the gut of the coverage unit. While I'm willing to give Rob Ninkovich another game to prove he can be a tough guy and get the job done, his performance on special teams against Oakland left me wanting more. Much more! But this was his first game on the 53-man roster, and working on special teams. I'll give him a week. Recently re-signed Courtney Bryan also needs to be doing more on special teams or he might be headed back to Arby's.

If you think the Patriots aren't going to try to exploit that wedge busting problem the Dolphins have you are sadly mistaken. Expect New England coach Bill Belichick to have some tricks stuff in that hoodie....

Since I'm on special teams, which coach Tony Sparano gave me a tongue lashing for criticizing on Monday, let me point out Charlie Anderson got hit for a holding call on Davone Bess' biggest punt return, his second holding penalty in two weeks. On Bess' second punt, a 23-yard return, Jason Allen was called for holding, bringing the play back.

Numbers don't lie Tony, and your unit is THE WORST in the NFL at kick coverage.

Since I'm pointing fingers at special teams player who have been lacking, Quentin Moses needs to be giving more to this unit or he'll be receiving his pink slip soon. If there's one thing we've learned about the Trifecta: if you don't bring value to the base defense, and don't contribute on special teams, you don't keep a job for very long. Moses has contributed two tackles on defense, and one on special teams this season. I predict he's targeted for a churn if he doesn't get it going.

Here's a list of players who actually are performing pretty well on those coverage units: Jason Allen, Patrick Cobbs, Reggie Torbor, Lousaka Polite and Brandon London (who needs to learn to motor down better as a gunner). More is needed from Nate Jones, Casey Cramer, Charlie Anderson and Tyrone Culver. And Torbor just barely made the doing decent list....

Randy Starks (two tackles) and Jason Allen (one tackle) started the Oakland game because the Dolphins opened in the nickel package. It was each player's first start of the season. Allen's getting better and better each week, and you already know I'm a big fan of Starks' per-play productivity.....

Will Allen had one of his better games of the season. Not only did the Dolphins top cornerback contribute a sack on a cornerback blitz, but he also made tackles for a loss, and batted down a deep pass to Ronald Curry (what's happened to him?). Will Allen has been excellent as the team's nickel cornerback with Jason Allen defending the boundary. But expect hooded genius to go after Jason Allen this week with Randy Moss. Remember, the Patriots have had extra time to prepare for the Dolphins since they last played on Thursday night and will likely exploit everyone of the Dolphins' perceived weaknesses. Jason Allen is doing better, but he's still a perceived weakness....

Ricky Williams started the game, but Ronnie Brown was in there on the very next snap. Considering Williams has an incentive laden deal it's good to see the coaches giving him a little reward for his 100-yard rushing effort against Seattle the week before. I like the approach the Dolphins have taken, testing out both early in the game and sticking with whoever has the hot hand. This week it was Brown, who rushed for 101 yards on 16 carries. Take note Brown's biggest run was for 21, which means he was grinding out the rest. However, Brown needs to get it going in the yardage and touchdown category if he's going to get that AFC Pro Bowl bid.

Ted Ginn Jr. is becoming a better run blocker. On Cobbs' 12-yard run in the first quarter Ginn pancaked an Oakland defensive back, opening up the run. Since I'm giving gold stars for blocks, on Ginn's 40-yard reverse right guard Ikechuku Ndukwe deserves some credit for serving as the lead blocker on the pull left. Ndukwe, who wasn't too bad this week splitting reps with Andy Alleman, was 30-yards down-field opening the hole....

Jason Ferguson (three tackles, one for a loss) had his best game of the season. It's clear he's past the sternum injury he suffered against Baltimore. But it should be pointed out he was regularly facing John Wade, Oakland's backup center....

Marques Tuiasosopo's fumbled snap was credited as a team sack, but rookie defensive end Kendall Langford (one tackle for a loss) deserves credit for the sack because he hit Tuiasosopo as he was trying to recover the football. Langford's play took a dip a month ago but he's put together a streak of two very good games....

There's no need for me to mention the phantom pass interference call that Ashley Lelie got against the Dolphins. Yeremiah Bell did cut in front of his route, tripping Lelie up a bit, but Bell had his head up and was going for the ball. Both the safety and receiver have the right to the ball. My first problem with the call is it got called on Jason Allen, who didn't even touch Lelie. My second issue with the bad call is it wasn't a catchable ball. At that point in the game that penalty went for 41 yards, which was double Oakland's yardage for the first half. It also lead to a field goal, getting the Raiders on the board....

The Dolphins knew Zach Miller was Oakland's No. 1 passing option but didn't do enough to prevent the second-year tight end from catching four passes for 67 yards. The Dolphins have been hot and cold defending tight ends this season and expect New England to exploit that now that Benjamin Watson is healthy.

The last time the Dolphins played the Patriots Watson was slowed by a knee injury. Watson caught eight passes for 88 yards and a touchdown against the Jets last week. Defending the tight ends is on Akin Ayodele and Bell. The Dolphins will need big games this week from both to beat New England.

Here's my question to you, what aspect of Sunday's game against the Patriots are you worried about the most?